Celebrate Picture Book Month this November and beyond
Picture books aren't just for little kids, they're a delightful experience for everyone, young and old. Dive in and explore the depth and breadth of this wonderful form and share some picture books during Picture Book Month. You won't want to stop.
Picture books for all ages
If you think that picture books are just for little kids, think again — picture books are for everyone, young and old.
Begin with the littlest babies and continue to inundate them with books as they grow. Make sure you don’t stop when children learn to read themselves. Keep exploring and sharing these treasure troves for laughs, all the feels, adventures to other places, and experiences and challenges aplenty. Or simply enjoy the rich language and accomplished artwork.
Massey Primary School picture book area. Image credit: Used with permission.
Use the library
To embrace picture books fully, it pays to belong to and use the school and/or public library, even if you have your own collection at home. There is such an abundance of new delights being published each year. You can visit the library and browse the shelves, look for new books on display, follow awards and picture book creators on social media, sign up for the newsletter from a children’s book specialist, and then purchase your favourites for your own collection or request them from your library.
Access to picture books
Picture books belong both at school and in the home. I encourage teachers, parents, caregivers and wider whānau to work together to build the love of literature and discover the delights of picture books together.
The aim of the game is to have a nice stack of books to explore. Find many different themes and styles. Everyone loves a funny picture book, rhyming or not, but also look for books on wellbeing, adventures, fantasy and even science fiction — all those genres can be found in picture books.
Information picture books
If you are a lover of information, there are many narrative non-fiction titles that tell a story with facts alongside. Multiple readings are essential. Read for the story, then read all the facts and explore each page. Make sure you have noticed all the added extras in the illustrations that supplement the text. Read it again with all the knowledge gained from those in-depth examinations.
Picture books for different ages and stages
The recommendations below are not limited to the ages they are listed for — share them around as readers from many levels will enjoy them.
Babies
Babies will astound you. Even the smallest quickly start to follow the pages as they absorb the soft rumble of your voice. They will love the rhyme and rhythm, all the voices and gentle lilting poetry. Bring out the nursery rhymes and find some recordings or YouTube videos if you’ve forgotten how they go.
Try books by these authors
Donovan Bixley:
Norah Wilson has written the E Oma Rāpiti | Run, Rabbit series (bilingual), illustrated by Kimberly Andrews and translated by Pānia Papa (Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta):
Early childhood
Pre-schoolers can fully take part in the picture book experience. Try out robust board books and then ‘real books’ as they learn to handle the pages. Texts with repetition that they can join in on will be read and re-read many times. They will love books that reflect their own experiences and the world around them. Don't be afraid to do all the voices or use expression and movement to bring the stories alive.
Once is often not enough — there will be favourites for little ones that they want again and again. When it drives you nuts, try to find something by the same author or illustrator that looks and sounds familiar, or with a similar topic but a new take. Let them pick their own books from the library shelves, as well as choose books yourself.
Try books by these authors
Sally Sutton:
Roadworks series illustrated by Brian Lovelock
When We Go Camping illustrated by Cat Chapman.
Juliette MacIver:
Beddy-Bye Time in the Kōwhai Tree illustrated by Lily Uivel
Duck Goes Meow illustrated by Carla Martell
The Grizzled Grist Does Not Exist! illustrated by Sarah Davis.
Ruth Paul:
Primary school
Mountains of picture books are necessary for the primary school years. Anything goes. From the funny or silly to touching stories with wellbeing at their core, all have their place.
Picture books are not only for fun entertainment. They can provide great fodder for discussion and deep thinking about their topics. Using picture books can be a useful way to introduce a topic and get the discussion going. Take it further than a one-and-done read-aloud.
Can readers:
act the story out
write alternative endings
make some art based on ideas in the book
make their own picture books?
Try books by these authors
Sacha Cotter has written these books, illustrated by Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau-a-Kai) and translated by Kawata Teepa (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa):
Kimberly Andrews:
Puffin the Architect series
Song of the River written by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Kimberly Andrews.
Melanie Drewery (Ngāti Māhanga) has written the Nanny Mihi series, illustrated by Suzanne Simpson and translated by Kanapu Rangitauira (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea). Earlier books in the series were illustrated by Tracy Duncan. Try these books:
Intermediate
This is the perfect level to engage with sophisticated picture books — these have complex ideas at their centre, with intriguing multi-layered illustrations that warrant close examination. Topics might require discussion and extra thought. There could be more text than you’ve previously found in a picture book, with rich language and references to wider literature and world views.
Intermediate age can be a tricky one for keeping young people engaged with reading. If you have trouble getting them to focus on a novel in class reading time, it’s well worth having a box full of picture books in the classroom. In a 10 to 15-minute sustained silent reading (SSR) session, a student can easily get through a whole picture book. There will be an intriguing storyline, details to find in the illustrations and experiences to add to their own.
I also recommend exploring wordless picture books. It doesn’t matter what language you speak or your ability to read, everyone can explore the story told in images. As well as individual reading, try sharing with others. Compare your interpretations of the story. They can aid in building vocabulary through discussion and also provide great prompts for creative writing.
Try books by these authors
Melinda Szymanik:
The Were-Nana (Not a Bedtime Story) illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson
My Elephant is Blue illustrated by Vasanti Unka
Sharing with Wolf illustrated by Nikki Slade-Robinson.
Gavin Bishop (Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Mahuta, Tainui):
The Gavin Bishop Treasury — fairy tales and original stories, including Mrs McGinty’s Bizarre Plant, Bidibidi, Mr Fox, Rats!
Katarina — based on the true story of a young Māori woman's life in the early 1860s
Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes — large format illustrated non-fiction.
Shaun Tan:
The Arrival (wordless)
The Lost Thing (then watch the Emmy Award-winning short film)
Wordless books
David Wiesner:
Aaron Becker:
Journey series
Secondary school
Secondary students might be surprised to be presented with a range of picture books, but they have many uses alongside being an enjoyable quick read. Picture books can quickly introduce a concept or a story based on true events. For example, there are many picture books on the themes of war, mental illness or civil rights.
Try books by these authors
Armin Greder — sophisticated picture books with themes of social justice:
Mark Wilson:
Adults
If you are an adult who hasn’t engaged with picture books since you were little, what do you remember? Do you remember books that you'd like to revisit? Are they packed away in a box somewhere, or can you request them from the library to be rediscovered?
Get yourself a big stack of picture books and leave them on your dining or coffee table and see how family and visitors engage with them. Pick the most intriguing title or attractive cover to put on the top. Leave a book open on the table — it’s bound to draw someone to explore the book. Read aloud to whoever is about. Often, I pick up a book and the language or story is so delightful that I must read it out loud to whoever is near for the shared joy of a great story.
Try to choose a wide range of books — something funny, a sad story, something with intricate illustrations where you discover something new every time you read it. Try a wordless picture book — enjoyable for all, but particularly good for anyone struggling with reading.
Library staff
Think about using National Library's school lending service to boost your supply of picture books. Request a topic selection of books. It might be on a particular theme (wellbeing, holidays, the environment) or a type of book (wordless, sophisticated). Our librarians will gather some amazing books for you to share with your students.
Picture books for all — try them out
There truly is something for everyone so make the most of November's Picture Book Month and take a trip to the library. Gather up a big pile of books, try to get a wide assortment of styles, themes and text types, and enjoy exploring them all and sharing them with others. Discover what you like (and don't) so you can get more to feed your growing picture book habit all year round.
Read more on our website
Picture books — discusses their importance in engaging students with reading and includes links to tips on teaching with picture books.
Sophisticated picture books — outlines ways to use these books and suggests sites for keeping up-to-date with new titles to add to your library’s collection.
Use our reading identity cards and chatterbox to foster conversations about what you are reading.
Get some hints and tips on reading aloud.
Engaging teens with reading — a range of activities for creating a reading culture in teens’ lives.
Supporting reading and literacy — a curated selection of advice, resources and information to support reading and literacy.
National Library's school lending service
Use our lending service — schools and home educators can borrow picture books to support students with inquiry and to encourage and develop their reading for pleasure.